Classroom Q and A

Getting comfortable speaking a foreign language in public is a hurdle most ELL students must overcome to participate in class. In this discussion, ELL teachers share strategies to help students break through any hesitance or concerns.

Follow on Twitter: @Laleh114000 @drivannia @Tools4Teacherss @JodyNolf @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork, @Jonharper70bd

Laleh Ghotbi started her teaching career in 1992 in Iran, where she taught in middle and high school for 7 years and worked as an academic coach at the school district for the next two year. In August 2000, she came to the United States with her husband and their 8-year-old son. Since then, she has worked as an Academic Enhancement Coordinator at Indian Hills Elementary for two years and earned two masters’ degrees; Master of Science and Technology-Biotechnology from the University of Utah, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Westminster College where she graduated with honors and was chosen as the student speaker for the 2017 commencement.
Dr. Ivannia Soto is a Professor of Education and Director of Graduate Programs at Whittier College, where she specializes in language acquisition, systemic reform for English language learners (ELLs), and urban education. She began her career in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), where she taught English and English Language Development to a population of 99.9% Latinos, who either were or had been multilingual learners. Before becoming a professor, Dr. Soto also served LAUSD as a literacy coach, as well as district office and county office administrator.

Jody Nolf is a former public school educator and has a degree in English, certification in reading and ESOL, and a master’s degree in leadership and administration. For over twenty years, she has taught English and Reading to middle and high school students. Six years ago, she transitioned into the world of ESOL as a full-time coordinator and advocate for ELL learners. In 2020, she was named a Champion of Equity by the American Consortium for Equity in Education. In June of 2022, she began a new career at Vista Higher Learning as the Florida Literacy and Language Sales Specialist. She continues to share her passion for literacy and advocate for multilingual learners.

Anastasia Martinez has worked with Multilingual learners in the United States and abroad for more than 10 years. Currently, she is serving Multilingual learners and their families in Pittsburg, CA as an ELD and AVID Excel teacher.

Creating the conditions that develop an intrinsic interest in reading is a longstanding challenge that is exacerbated by distance learning. In this episode, we explore ways to encourage students to read in traditional and online classes.

Follow on Twitter: @SJEducate @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork, @butler__melissa @jenorr @Dr_Katie_AlanizDr. Sawsan Jaber, a global educator of twenty years in the U.S. and abroad, currently serves as a High School English teacher in Illinois. She is an Our Voice Academy Board Director, the founder of Education Unfiltered Consulting, and a founding member of the Arab American Education Network. Sawsan is a proud Palestinian American. Melissa A. Butler is a writer, speaker, and educator living in Pittsburgh, PA. She was a classroom teacher for 23 years and now consults to help people slow down to notice more. Much of her work focuses on trust, intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and notice-to-wonder practices. Jennifer Orr is a kindergarten teacher in a Title 1 school in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Previously she has taught 5th, 4th, and 1st graders, as well as her own two daughters. Katie Alaniz, Ed.D., is a faculty member and Director of Online Learning and Professional Development within the College of Education Behavioral Sciences at HBU. As a teacher and digital learning specialist for over a decade in both public and private schools, including her service as a digital learning specialist at River Oaks Baptist School, she guides fellow educators as they meaningfully integrate digital resources within their classrooms.